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Deep Questions with Cal Newport

Latest episodes

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Jun 28, 2021 • 1h 9min

Ep. 109: How Much Should I Read?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.BOOK REPORT: The Square and the Tower [3:6]DEEP WORK QUESTIONS - What should I do if I like my job but dislike the industry? [11:41] - How hard should I push back against a shallow company culture? [16:15] - Is productivity only for people with certain personality types? [25:05] - What is the best strategy for an aspiring academic? [27:30] - Should I ask experts or learn on my own? [29:23] - Can you tell me more about the CIA's mail tubes? [34:45] - How do I get on the New York Times bestseller list? [40:36]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - Is there value in keeping a daily record of significant activity? [49:50] - Can I pursue the deep life if I have mental health issues? [56:06] - Are there wrong ways to pursue the deep life? [1:00:22] - How much time do I (Cal) spend reading? [1:04:09]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.
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18 snips
Jun 24, 2021 • 45min

Ep. 108: LISTENER CALLS: Becoming Productive

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast. - The hyperactive hive mind and the return to the office. [2:57]- Becoming productive. [12:23]- Time tracking apps. [24:51]- Scheduling continuous projects. [27:19]- Struggling with time blocking. [36:51]- Working on problems past when it's useful. [41:47]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.
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17 snips
Jun 21, 2021 • 1h 1min

Ep. 107: How Do I Stay Motivated on Long-Term Projects?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.DEEP WORK QUESTIONS:- How do I cultivate urgency for long-term projects? [2:49]- How do I learn more about deliberate practice? [11:54]- How do deal with an "open door" policy at work? [17:06]- How can I return to academia after taking an industry job? [19:57]- Does a commitment to deep work block me from management? [21:37]- How do I avoid distractions when working from home? [24:56]- Can condensed deep work rituals still be effective? [27:45]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS:- How should I use boredom? [37:09]- Will organized schedules undermine my social life? [45:42]- What is my (Cal) take on Clubhouse? [52:11]- How can someone with few resources cultivate meaningful leisure? [56:48]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.
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Jun 17, 2021 • 39min

Ep. 106: LISTENER CALLS: Art Without Social Media

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.  - Balancing work and school. [3:34] - Deep work and ADHD. [8:28] - Building career capital as an account executive. [15:15] - Do I know Naval Ravikant? P22:35] - Art without social media. [27:31] - Pursuing a PhD purely for passion. [33:53]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music and Mark Miles for mastering.
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Jun 14, 2021 • 1h 5min

Ep. 105: Should I Read the News?

DEEP WORK QUESTIONS - How do you apply deep work when your job is entirely shallow? [4:37] - Is batching emails a few times a day a good practice? [12:20] - Why are some tips for managing the flow of emails and texts from clients? [19:54] - What am I (Cal) working during my teaching sabbatical this spring? [26:45] - What are the ideal ratios for writing, thinking, and reading in a day? [29:47] - Can I (Cal) elaborate on how I track deep work? [34:17] - How do you avoid easing up on the gas after tenure? [35:58] - How do I teach my kids to appreciate career capital? [40:08]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - How does Cal Newport handle stress? [46:44] - how much news should I be reading? [51:55] - Is there a connection between Stephen Covey's saw and Newport's buckets? [57:59] - How do you (Cal) deal with failure and setbacks? [1:00:21]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.
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Jun 10, 2021 • 42min

Ep. 104: LISTENER CALLS: Saying "No" Without Saying "No"

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.   - Balancing the unpredictable demands of a small business. [3:16] - Taming emails when it's hard to say "no". [10:02] - Notebook overkill. [20:47] - On adverting and social media.[29:52] - My thoughts on video games. [35:45]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.
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31 snips
Jun 7, 2021 • 1h 6min

Ep. 103: What is the Relationship Between Order and Well-Being?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.DEEP WORK QUESTIONS - How do you do deep work when you're not in the mood? [3:48] - How do you mange time for side hustle projects? [13:38] - What future technologies will have the biggest positive impact on focus and attention? [16:51] - How do I avoid prioritizing other peoples' task needs above my own? [24:28] - How do I build career capital without guidance? [30:12]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - How do I stop my social media relapses? [43:50] - How do I remain committed to the deep life? [48:28] - What is the relationship between order and well-being? [52:56] - How do I (Cal) track my values? [1:00:45]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music
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Jun 3, 2021 • 1h 22min

Ep. 102: BRAD STULBERG: How Do We Work Less?

In this episode, author Brad Stulberg joins me in person at my Deep Work HQ (!) for a deep dive into the topic of busyness, burn out, and the quest to craft more sustainable professional lives. For more on Brad: https://thegrowtheq.com/ or my interview from Episode 47.Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.
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May 31, 2021 • 58min

Ep. 101: Does Productivity Impede the Deep Life?

Below are the questions covered in today's episode (with their timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.DEEP WORK QUESTIONS - Should I maintain a day free from all work? [3:55] - How do I take notes on a Kindle? [9:06] - How an I integrate accountability with my time-block planning? (Bonus rant on making workloads transparent.) [11:31] - How do I avoid over-structuring my life as a student? [19:49] - What is my (Cal) computer science research about? [21:35] - What is the best productivity system for someone who manages hundreds of tasks across numerous projects? [25:26]DEEP LIFE QUESTIONS - How do you decide when to commit to a new role or project? [34:07 - Are my (Cal) ideas on passion in stark contrast to most philosophers? [39:44] - Have I (Cal) started a new book yet? [44:25] - Should I spend time on investing or my side project? [45:07] - What is the role of productivity in the deep life? [51:19]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.
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May 27, 2021 • 45min

Ep. 100: LISTENER CALLS: Scheduling Household Admin

Below are the topics covered in today's listener calls mini-episode (with timestamps). For instructions on submitting your own questions, go to calnewport.com/podcast.  - Dealing with time blocking overload. [4:13] - Planning household admin. [9:04] - How theoreticians schedule proof work. [16:24] - Retyping notes (or not). [27:57] - Becoming a better conductor. [34:15]Thanks to Jay Kerstens for the intro music.

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